Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 34
हनुमता सीतासंवादोपायचिन्ता
Hanuman’s Deliberation on How to Address Sita
कामं हन्तुं समर्थोऽस्मि सहस्राण्यपि रक्षसाम्।।।।न तु शक्ष्यामि सम्प्राप्तुं परं पारं महोदधेः।
kāmaṃ hantuṃ samartho 'smi sahasrāṇy api rakṣasām | na tu śakṣyāmi samprāptuṃ paraṃ pāraṃ mahodadheḥ ||
Aku mampu, jika aku kehendaki, membunuh bahkan ribuan Rākṣasa; namun setelah itu aku mungkin tidak sanggup mencapai kembali tebing seberang samudra agung.
"I may be capable of killing even thousands of demons but thereafter (thoroughly exhausted) reach the other side of the ocean.
FAQs
Dharma as goal-oriented restraint: even justified strength should be governed by mission-purpose; unnecessary combat that jeopardizes return and reporting is ethically unsound.
Hanumān considers that open fighting in Laṅkā—even if he wins—could drain him and prevent his safe return across the ocean to inform Rāma.
Self-control and prioritization: he places the success of Rāma’s cause above personal display of power.